Performers considered for film roles

This is a list of performers who were considered for Star Trek films roles, but ultimately did not appear in the role in the film. Performers listed here have been verified as having been considered by Star Trek production staff for a particular film role in which they ultimately did not appear.

Frederic Forrest auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 2:00 pm on 25 July1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105)

Lance Henriksen auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:40 am on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105)

Arthur Hindle auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for sometime between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105). Hindle had previously appeared in the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. That film was directed by Philip Kaufman, and Leonard Nimoy had a prominent role.

Richard Kelton auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:30 am on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105) Kelton also played Ficus Pandorata on the NBC sci-fi comedy television series Quark, which included numerous references to Star Trek throughout its short run. (For more information, see the series' entry at Star Trek parodies and pop culture references.)

Tim Thomerson auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:50 am on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105) As with Richard Kelton, Thomerson also appeared on the television series Quark.

Madlyn Rhue (3 October1935 – 16 December2003; age 68) was originally planned to reprise her role as LieutenantMarla McGivers in the film, having established that part in TOS: "Space Seed". Harve Bennett ended up writing the character out of the film's story, after learning that Rhue suffered from multiple sclerosis which bound her to a wheelchair. Bennett felt it would be unfair to recast the role.

Kirsty Alley (born 1951) was offered the chance to reprise the role of Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, but according to Alley, she was offered less money for that film than she was paid for Star Trek II and thus declined to return. According to Leonard Nimoy, Alley's talent agent demanded a salary that was higher than DeForest Kelley's after learning that Saavik was to have a large role in the film. [1] It was also reported that "Just before production began, negotiations with Kirstie Alley broke down. [...] The Los Angeles Times indicated the problem concerned money with Alley asking 10 times the salary she earned on Star Trek II. [...] Alley's representative, Michael Levine, agreed that the problem was financial, but refused further details." (Starlog #77, December 1983, p. 15)

After an intensive casting search, Nimoy opted instead to recast the role of Saavik, which was ultimately given to Robin Curtis.

In a later interview, Alley reported wanted to reprise the role, but Paramount wasn't willing to pay what she was asking, which according to Alley was "less money then they did for Star Trek II, so I figured they weren't very interested in me for Saavik." This, combined with the commitment of a co-starring role in the TV pilot Masquerade for ABC, forced Alley to bow out of the role. (Starlog #102, January 1986, p. 43)

Upon viewing The Search for Spock, Alley found the film an enjoyable but unnerving experience, as she came to the realization that of Curtis' as Saavik, "She wasn't me". Sympathizing with Curtis, however, Alley revealed that "I thought she was at a real disadvantage playing the role someone else established, especially with Star Trek, which has an enormous following. I think she did a fine job. I have no problem with what she was doing except that, when I saw the film, I said, 'She isn't Saavik. I am.'" (Starlog #102, January 1986, p, 43)

Another casting controversy sparked by press speculation concerns a possible starring (or cameo) role for comedian Eddie Murphy in Star Trek IV. "It's too premature to discuss that," Nimoy maintains. "There has been much conjecture about Murphy since Beverly Hills Cop. The press has been very curious about what he will do next. They know he has a multi-picture deal with Paramount. They know he is a big Star Trek fam. They know Trek IV is in preparation at Paramount. So, it isn't surprising that rumor would pop up. And when I started talking about the film being lighter in tone, some people put two and two together."

Indeed, many Trek fans have already reached that conclusion, and have vociferously voice their opposition to the idea. They fear the inappropriate casting of Murphy could torpedo Trek IV as irreparably as the selection of Richard Pryor sabotaged Superman III.

Although unwilling to substantiate the speculation, Nimoy still refuses to pubicly dismiss the notion of incorporating the unorthodox antics of the madcap Murphy into the sedate atmosphere of the Star Trek environment. "Why should I?," he asks, not entirely rhetorically. "What would be gained? Why should I try to reassue the fans who are worried about it? That would mean I was letting them dictate to me." [...] "I've been through this before." [...] "In other words, we are professional people doing a professional job. If we decide that Eddie Murphy should be in Trek IV, then the fans will have to trust us. Let us do our work."

Shortly before the release of the film, it was noted that "at the other end of the soundstage from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a large, sewer set from The Golden Child, Eddie Murphy's new fantasy adventure. Murphy's proximity is a reminder that he was once rumored to have a role in the new Trek film. It was, however, only a small part with Murphy unrecognizably made up as a Klingon official–a role that was instead filled by character actor John Schuck." (Starlog #111, October 1986, p. 40; Starlog #138, p. 30)

Years later, it was confirmed that Murphy had expressed interest in the part and early scripts were written with Murphy in mind for the role of a major character, an eccentric professor who believed that aliens exist, who ultimately became DoctorGillian Taylor. Ultimately a negative writing campaign coupled with story issues prompted the writers to drop the idea, and Murphy moved on to other projects. "I'm a Trekkie. I've always loved Star Trek and have wanted to do one of the films," says Murphy. "The script was developed, but we eventually dropped the idea. [The] Golden Child came along and I decided to do that film instead ... In retrospect, I might have been better off doing Star Trek IV." The character was ultimately rewritten as a woman and the part went to Catherine Hicks. (Starlog, October 1987, p. 8; The Trek 25th Anniversary Celebration; Trekworld, June 1999)

Since then, Murphy has continued a successful career in film, starring in such hits as Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Doctor Dolittle, Daddy Day Care, and the Shrek films. In 2006 he received his first Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in Dreamgirls.

Susan Sarandon (born 1946) was one of "several other actresses [who] were considered for the role of Dr. Taylor [...] but Hicks fought through four auditions to land the part." At the time she was known for her work in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Starlog, March 1987, p. 39)

William Shatner originally wanted Sean Connery to play the role of Sybok in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Shatner had tremendous respect for Connery's acting talents, and knew that his presence would be a great bonus in that the film would draw a foreign box office business. Before Paramount could close the deal with him, Connery accepted a role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which was scheduled to film at the same time as Star Trek V. Shatner was deeply disappointed to learn of Connery's unavailability. Despite this, the writers kept the reference to Connery – Sha Ka Ree – in the film.

In Shatner's search for Connery's replacement, he looked at other foreign actors which might bring in overseas business. "We considered several people," he said, "and were especially intrigued by one well-known Swedish actor (Max von Sydow) who I consider very talented. But when we found out how expensive he was, that idea quickly flew out the window."

McLish is a famous female bodybuilder and former Ms. Olympia who retired in 1984. She has acted in several movies such as Getting Physical (1984) alongside Spice Williams-Crosby and TNG guest actor Earl Boen and Raven Hawk (1996) with John de Lancie, Michael Champion, Ed Lauter, John Fleck, and Nicholas Guest, and published several books as well as many fitness instruction videos.

Max von Sydow is known for his many collaborations with famed writer/director Ingmar Bergman during his early career, which included the acclaimed films Wild Strawberries (1957), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Magician (1958), The Virgin Spring (1960), and Through a Glass Darkly (1961). Perhaps von Sydow's best-known American film role is that of Father Merrin in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist. He was received Golden Globe nominations for his work on both The Exorcist and the 1966 film Hawaii, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the 1987 Danish film Pelle the Conqueror.

His many other, non-genre film credits include the 1975 thriller Three Days of the Condor, the 1986 comedy Hannah and Her Sisters, the 1993 horror film Needful Things, and the dramas Awakenings (1990) and Snow Falling on Cedars (1999). More recent credits include Rush Hour 3 (2007) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007).

Most ironically, Cattrall was not available for the original part in Wrath of Khan, whereas it was Alley, who turned out to be unavailable for The Undiscovered Country. Alley's unavailability, was the reason why the character of Saavik was changed into that of Valeris, as Robin Curtis, who had also played the part of Saavik, had never been considered to reprise the role. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 22, No. 5, p. 31)

Leonard Nimoy (26 March1931 – 27 February2015; age 83) was approached to appear as Spock in the prologue sequence of Star Trek Generations and direct the film, but declined the offer. As Nimoy explained, "There were five or six lines attributed to Spock [...] but it had nothing to do with Spock. They were not Spock-like in any way. I said to Rick Berman, 'You could distribute these lines to any one of the other characters and it wouldn't make any difference.' And that is exactly what he did. There was no Spock function in the script. I have always tried to make a contribution to these movies. There was no contribution to be made in that movie. It was just sort of 'let's get Nimoy in here too.' I said there is nothing here I can do so I said 'thanks, but I'll pass'." [3] He was replaced by Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) in the scene.

Marsters is best known for playing Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and Captain John Hart on the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood. He co-starred with Star Trek: Enterprise actress Jolene Blalock and TNG/DS9/VOY guest actor Tony Todd in the film Shadow Puppets and had a supporting role in the 2007 drama P.S. I Love You. In 2001, he played Charlemagne Bolivar in an episode of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda. He also had a recurring role as Professor Fine/Brainiac in the CW series Smallville and also played the villain Piccolo in the live-action film adaptation of the popular anime series Dragonball.

Shanks is best known for playing Dr. Daniel Jackson on the long-running series Stargate SG-1, its direct-to-video spinoff films and television spin-off series. Shanks has also appeared on such shows as Smallville, Andromeda, and Burn Notice. [15]

Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody (born 1973) was in talks to play Spock in Star Trek, the eleventh Trek film released in 2009. At first, his connection to the project was merely a rumor, [17] but Brody himself later confirmed that he had discussed playing Spock with the film's director, J.J. Abrams. [18] The role of Spock ultimately went to Zachary Quinto.

Brody won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Polish Jewish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski's The Pianist. He has since starred in such films as M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, Peter Jackson's King Kong, Allen Coulter's Hollywoodland, Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited, the adventure comedy The Brothers Bloom, and the biographical drama Cadillac Records (with Gabrielle Union).

Matt Damon (born 1970) is an American Academy Award-nominated actor and Academy Award-winning screenwriter who was approached to play James T. Kirk's father, George Kirk in Star Trek. [19] According to Abrams, Damon turned down the role for "most gracious and understandable and logical of reasons." [20] The role ultimately went to Chris Hemsworth.

Before this, Damon had long been rumored to be in the running for the role of James T. Kirk in the film. It was even rumored that he solicited William Shatner's aid in getting him signed up. [21](X) Damon himself denied having been approached for the role, although he later told Sci-fi Wire that he would be interested in playing a young Captain Kirk if the script met with his satisfaction. [22](X) In March 2007, Kurtzman, although not confirming that Damon would play Kirk, stated that he was "the hugest Matt Damon fan. If he became [Kirk], great." [23] In a subsequent interview with IGN, Damon stated that the filmmakers were looking for someone younger for the role. [24]Chris Pine was ultimately cast in the role.

Damon began acquiring fame in the 1990s with major roles in such films as School Ties (1992), Courage Under Fire (1996), and Saving Private Ryan (1998). He and best friend Ben Affleck won an Academy Award for their screenplay to the 1997 drama Good Will Hunting, for which Damon also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Damon and Affleck later became executive producers on Project Greenlight, for which they received three Emmy Award nominations. Damon and Affleck have also worked together on several projects for director Kevin Smith, most notably the 1998 film Dogma.

In addition, Damon is known for his roles in two film franchises: he plays young thief Linus Caldwell in the Ocean's films (Ocean's Eleven in 2001, Ocean's Twelve in 2004, and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007), and also stars as amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne in the Bourne films (The Bourne Identity in 2002, The Bourne Supremacy in 2005, and The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007). Had he been cast in Star Trek, it would have marked his second film with Karl Urban, whom he worked with on The Bourne Supremacy. It also would have been his second movie photographed by Daniel Mindel, after the 2003 comedy, Stuck on You.

Damon's other films include The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), The Brothers Grimm (2005), Syriana (2005, in which he acted alongside Star Trek: Deep Space Nine regular Alexander Siddig), Martin Scorsese's Academy Award-winning The Departed (2006, with Mark Rolston). He also lent his voice to such films as Titan A.E. (2000, along with Ron Perlman and Charles Rocket), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002, with James Cromwell), and the English version of the Hayao Miyazaki film Ponyo.

Damon earned his second Academy Award in an acting category for his performance in Clint Eastwood's 2009 drama Invictus. He has since been seen in such films as Eastwood's Hereafter (2010), the Coen brothers-directed remake of True Grit (2010), the family drama We Bought a Zoo, and the hit 2011 sci-fi thrillers Contagion and The Adjustment Bureau. Damon also worked alongside Star Trek: Enterprise star Scott Bakula in two films directed by Steven Soderbergh: the 2009 comedy The Informant and the 2013 Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra. In addition, Damon played the recurring role of airline pilot Carol Burnett on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock.

Ricky Gervais (born 1961) is an English actor, comedian, producer, and director who turned down an unspecified role in Star Trek. He was approached by the film's director and producer, J.J. Abrams, whom Gervais previously worked with on an episode of Alias, but Gervais rejected a part in the film. He explained his reasons for doing so: "I was never a big fan, so I would've felt guilty taking the part just to be in a blockbuster. To what? Boost my profile?" [25]

Gervais is known for his work on two popular British comedy series: he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the original series of The Office (and also made two cameo appearances on its American remake, which starred Rainn Wilson – coincidentally, Spencer Daniels, who plays Johnny in the film, is the son of Greg Daniels, the executive producer of the US version), and then went on to do the same for Extras. These shows have earned Gervais two Emmy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe, and a British Comedy Award, among many other honors. Gervais has also starred in such films as Night at the Museum, For Your Consideration, Stardust, and Ghost Town. He even wrote and lent his voice to an episode of The Simpsons.

Greg Haines is an actor who was originally cast and scheduled to portray an instructor at Starfleet Academy in 2009's Star Trek but was chosen to be the stand-in for actor Ben Cross. Haines had a wardrobe fitting but did not appear on screen. (Source: Greg Haines)

Jeffery Hauser is an actor who was cast to have a supporting role as a Kelvin crewmember in 2009's Star Trek. He was cast in October 2007 and was on set to shoot his scenes a month later. [26][27] During the day of shooting he was asked to step down by the first AD and told that they had another scene in mind for him. But Hauser got no call back and saw a different actor saying his lines when he saw the film on DVD two years later. [28]

Hauser moved to Los Angeles in 2003 and appeared in a few stage productions. He got featured parts in Forest Whitaker's First Daughter (2004) and Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (2004), alongside Star Trek actress Zoe Saldana. He performed in several commercials, including one with Samuel L. Jackson, which was shown during the Super Bowl in 2004. [29]

Hauser has started to write his own scripts and to produce short films. He served as photo double for the drama Little Miss Sunshine (2006), was featured in three episodes of the daytime television series Days of Our Lives (2004-2005), and played a lead role in the independent film Broken Concrete (2006). [31]

After his experience in the new Star Trek film he called himself a "Star Trek freak". [32]

Jackson is best known for playing Pacey Witter in the television series Dawson's Creek from 1998 through 2003. He is also known for playing Charlie Conway in the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks and its sequels, D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994) and D3: The Might Ducks (1996, with Jeffrey Nordling). He has worked with Louise Fletcher in two films: 1999's Cruel Intentions and 2005's Aurora Borealis. His other film credits include Apt Pupil (directed by Bryan Singer and co-starring Bruce Davison), Urban Legend (with John Neville), The Skulls (with Christopher McDonald), Gossip (with Sharon Lawrence), The Laramie Project (with Clancy Brown), and Bobby (with Christian Slater).

Lucas had supporting roles in several acclaimed films, including American Psycho, A Beautiful Mind, and Secondhand Lions. He played the lead male role in 2002's Sweet Home Alabama and played the villain in 2003's Hulk, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and starring Eric Bana. He has since had lead roles in such films as Stealth, Glory Road, and Poseidon.

She is the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier and actress Joanna Shimkus (ironically, Zoë Saldana, who eventuallyed play Uhura, had starred in 2005's Guess Who, a comic remake, with the racial roles reversed, of Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, the groundbreaking 1967 film starring Poitier's father). She has been seen in such films as True Crime (with Michael McKean and Anthony Zerbe), MacArthur Park (co-starring Lori Petty), and Nine Lives (with K Callan and Lawrence Pressman) and had recurring roles on Joan of Arcadia and Veronica Mars. She is best known for playing Jungle Julia in the Quentin Tarantino film Death Proof, one of the two films released as the 2007 anthology Grindhouse.

Russell was the star of Abrams' series Felicity, for which she won a Golden Globe. She also appeared in Abrams' first film, Paramount's Mission: Impossible III with Simon Pegg. More recently, she starred in the acclaimed independent film Waitress and in the 2007 drama August Rush. Other film credits include the films We Were Soldiers, The Upside of Anger, The Girl in the Park, and Austenland.

Vogel was modeling for Levi's jeans that he won a recurring role in the FOX (and later WB) series Grounded for Life, whose regular cast included Richard Riehle. He made his film debut in the 2003 skateboarding comedy Grind which was followed by the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre later that year. Since then, Vogel has starred in such films as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Rumor Has It..., and Poseidon with Jimmy Bennett, who played young James Kirk in the movie Vogel tried out for. Vogel also appeared in the comedy She's Out of My League, along with Alice Eve, and a regular role in the ABC series Pan Am. From 2013 to 2015, he was Dale Barbara, aka "Barbie", on the CBS summer series Under the Dome.

Mark Wahlberg (born 1971) is an American actor and former rapper who was offered the role of George Kirk. He said "I remember [J.J. Abrams] asking me to play Captain Kirk's father in Star Trek. I tried to read the script, but I couldn't even, I didn't understand the words or dialogue or anything, and I said, 'I couldn't do this. I think you're really talented but I couldn't do it.' Then I saw the movie and I was like, 'Holy shit, he did a great job."[48]

Del Toro is also known for his roles in such films as Snatch (2000), 21 Grams (2003, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination), Sin City (2005), the two-part biographical drama Che (2008), The Wolfman (2010) and Oliver Stone's Savages (2012). His upcoming films include the romance-thriller Paradise Lost, in which he plays infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, and Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice. He also appeared as the Collector opposite Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana in the sci-fi action film Guardians of the Galaxy, based on Marvel Comics characters. [53]

Michael Dorn (born9 December1952; age 66) played Worf and his grandfather in the previous films and television series, and was offered the part of "an officer – a soldier." He and his agent expressed interest, but "then time went by and we finally talked to them at maybe the end of January or February [2012] and they said they had changed their mind." Dorn was unclear why, speculating "It could have been the casting people going 'Hey this would be a good idea' and they shot it up the road to JJ and he said 'No, we aren’t going to do that.' But I don't know. It is nothing nefarious. Nothing mean. They changed their mind, so I don't worry about it." [54]